Apparatus for stacking flat cans



F. WINTERS APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT CANS July 14, 1953 Filed Sept. 15. 1950 NVE. NTOE' Floyd lllintcrs fi af JJWMQV 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HS ATTORNEY July 14, 1953 F. WINTERS APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT CANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15. 1950 Y n w Rh 2 on 0 H mm A W hm 11% .H F w July 14, 1953 F. wm'rs'hs APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT CANS t H, e

Filed Sept. 15, 1950 Y E s N MMW O T W .m w d .H w H m Patented July 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT CANS Floyd Winters, Monterey, Calif. Application September 15, 1950, Serial No. 184,937

18 Claims. (Cl. 198-35) This invention relates to can handling equipment and more particularly to apparatus for stacking cans incident to placement of the cans into cartons.

The device of the present invention is specifically directed to the stacking of flat type cans such as are used in the fish canning industry. Such cans are usually rectangular in shape with rounded corners, or are oval shape and in some cases round. The depth of these cans varies in accordance with the quantity of food stuif to be contained in them.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide an apparatus for automatically placing fiat type cans in stacks of a predetermined number of cans in height and arranging such stacks in groups for confinement in cardboard cartons.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for stacking cans which is simple in construction, automatic and positive in operation, and highly efficient in use.

A further object is to provide an apparatus into which cans are fed in successive order for arrangement into stacks of predetermined height 1 and for grouping of the stacks into uniform rows of order for reception into a carton placed over the stacks of cans by hand.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following specification in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of an apparatus for stacking cans for placement into cartons.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the can stacking portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 3 taken along line fi-d thereof.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the can stacking device shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the other portion of the can stacking device shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the apparatus In therein comprises 'a feed conveyor H including a deflector 12 for separating the incoming cans into a plurality of lines incident to automatically by control mechanism It intermittently operable to discharge the stacked cans in groups. Further separation of the stacked cans into additional tiers is accomplished by a novel gate means l7 operable by the stacks of cans as they are moved by the discharge conveyor toward a carton filling station [8 at the discharge end of the discharge conveyor.

The apparatus It includes a frame 20 of a length suitable to embody the foregoing principal portions of the apparatus. This frame 20 includes a section 2| of counter height and a section 22 at the forward or receiving end of the frame 29 which must be slightly higher than a stack of cans to be received on the discharge conveyor. This section 22 supports the feed conveyor l l which comprises a driven pulley 23 and a floating pulley 24 over which is trained an endless belt in the form of a chain or link type web 25.

The floating pulley 24 is journaled for rotation about an axis transverse of the frame 29 and with the upper periphery of the pulley 24 tangent to the upper extremity of the section 22 of the frame. The driven pulley 23 is likewise journaled on the opposite extremity of the sec- 7 tion 22 so as to support the upper reach 26 of the belt 25 parallel to the upper extremity of the section 22 of the frame. Suitable intermediate rolls, (not shown) extending transversely beneath the upper reach 26 of the belt, are journaled on the upper structural sides of the section 22 to maintain the reach 26 horizontal.

The discharge conveyor l5 comprises a pair of pulleys 21 and 28 around which a chain web or belt 29 is trained. The front pulley 2i freely floats in bearings disposed on the counter height section 2| slightly in advance of the driven pulley 23 of the feed conveyor. The rear pulley 28 is disposed sufficiently beyond the front pulley 27 to accommodate the can stacking chamber M, gate means I? and the carton filling station 18 hereinbefore mentioned.

Both pulleys 21 and 28 are disposed with their upper peripheries at counter height level so as to support the upper reach 3%) of the belt 29 at counter height, there being underlying rolls (not shown) beneath the reach 30 to maintain the latter horizontal.

Beyond the discharge end of the discharge conveyor [5 the frame 29 is provided with a flat top table 3i comprising a part of a carton turning device 32. This device 32 may be of any well known construction, the one in the present disclosure including right angled arms 33 disposed to receive a filled carton in inverted (upside down) position. The arms 33 turn on an axis 34 through operation of a drive mechanism 35 for turning the filled cartons over onto a roller conveyor 35 by which the filled carton (open side up) is conveyed to a carton sealing machine (not shown).

All of the conveyors herein are driven from a common countershaft 3'! suitably supported on the frame 28 adjacent a motor 38 bolted onto a platform provided on the frame. A belt 39 drivingly connects the motor 38 to the countershaft 31 and the latter is connected by belts 4G and 4| to the driven pulley 23 of the feed conveyor and the rear pulley 28 of the discharge conveyor respectively. The rolls of the roller conveyor 36 may be driven by abelt 42 from the rear pulley 28. The direction of movement of all conveyors is such as to advance cans from front to rear relative to the frame and all belts are constantly driven so that movement of the cans is interrupted only by obstructing devices as later to be made apparent.

The cans are fed onto the feed conveyor in single file, usually directly from a labeling machine, and upon entering the feed conveyorpass between spaced rails 45 supported above the upper reach 26 of the belt from overhead cross bars carried by the upper section 22 of the frame.

The rails 45 terminate in advance of the deflector l2 also carried by overhead cross supports of the frame 25. This deflector i2 consists of a,

conventional butterfly valve 4'! which may be operable by solenoids (not shown) when a can passes to one or the other side of the valve for changing the position of the valve 47 to deflect the next can to the opposite side of the valve. From the foregoing it will be apparent that two lines of cans flow toward the dual level chutes, it being obvious, however, that the number of lines of cans may be further increased provided the number of dual level chutes are similarly increased.

The dual level chute l3 comprises a stationary chute 50 secured at its forward end to the'uprights of the upper section 22 of the frame and at its rearward end to partitions 5|, 52 and 53 which form separate stacking chambers M for each line of cans. This chute 5D has its upper edge disposed tangential to the belt 25 as it turns over the pulley 23 so that cans discharging from the feed'conveyor enter the chute 58.

The dual chute [3 in addition to the lower stationary chute 55 includes an upper chute 55 which acts to divert cans from the lower chute and position No. l to the upper chute and position No. 2. This upper chute 55 comprises a counterbalanced valve means 55 consisting of a pair of wedge shaped arms 51 pivotally mounted midway their ends on a shaft 55. This shaft 51 is supported by the upstanding side Walls 59 of the lower, stationary chute 50.

Also secured to the shaft 58 are a plurality of rails GI and 52 having their opposite ends se- .cured to a crossbar 63 carried by the upstanding panels 5|, 52, and 53 of the stacking chamber I4,

These rails 5i62 are also supported intermediate their ends by a crossbar 64 carried by side walls .65 extending from the rails 45 on the feed'conveyor to the outer panels 5| and 53 of the stacking chamber.

The arms 51 are joined at their forward or apex ends by a tie bar 66 carrying a lead sleeve 61 of .suitable weight to counterbalance the rearward or enlarged ends 68 of the arms 5'1. The enlarged ends of the arms 51 are so formed as to extend into the path of a can sliding down the stationary chute 55 so that the descending can, upon striking the enlarged ends 68, tilt the arms 51 clockwise, Fig. i. The apex end of each arm 51 is formed to fit close to the periphery of the feed belt 25 as it rounds the pulley 23. In this manner the next can discharging from the feed belt 25 slides down the upper chute 55. As a can sliding down the chute 55 passes the shaft 58 it weighs the upper edge of the enlarged end of the arms 51 down causing the valve means 55 to return toward its initial position (dotted lines, Fig. 4)

In order to effect a positive action in rocking the movable chute into one or the other of its extreme positions, an over center device it is associated with each of the pairs of arms 57. In other words, a sleeve 12 connected to the outermost of the arms 51 extends through the side wall 65 of the chute 5B. A crank arm 13 extends from the sleeve '12 outside the side wall of the dual chute. A tension spring M has one of its ends secured to the free end of the crank arm is and its opposite end anchored to a pin 15 secured to the side wall 65. The pin I5 is disposed in a position to cause the crank arm 13 to rock to one or the other side of a center position as effected by initial movement of the movable chute by a can in the manner as previously explained.

Since flat or oval type fish cans are limited in length, the number of cans stacked from a particular chute is limited to a height less than the length of such can. Consequently, the lower edge of the chute 59 is disposed above the discharge conveyor l5 a distance suitable for this stacking height. In the present disclosure about three cans in height are the most that can be stacked from any one of the stacking chutes 50 or 55.

It should here be noted that the cans to be stacked have an integral container portion to which a lid is applied by a scanner in the usual manner. Consequently, the lid of these cans is depressed which is conducive to a partial nesting of the cans with respect to each other when they are stacked. In the present disclosure the cans are fed from the conveyor H upside down due to the fact that the cartons are to be placed, over them and later inverted. Obviously, aside from this purpose, the cans may be fed in the present apparatus either right side up or upside down, as desired.

A deflector strip 16 is supported angularly below the lower edge of the chute 50 and terminates approximately one can height above the upper reach 35 of the discharge conveyor belt 29. The partitions 5|, 52 and 53 forming the stacking chainbers l4 extend along the receiving end of the discharge conveyor 2. number of can lengths. In the'present disclosure four can positions, designated l, 2, 3, and 4 (Figs. 3 to 5), are provided within the stacking chambers 14. At the rearward end of each chamber M a solenoid 11 is provided, its coil is being suitably mounted on the counter height frame 2| and its armature 19 The cans on the upper reach 30 of the belt 29 are permitted to move intermediately dependent upon the completion of the second stack at position No. 2. This is accomplished automatically by a microswitch 82 disposed on a crossbar 83 above the panels 5| to 53.

As best seen in Fig. 6 the microswitch 82 controls a circuit 84 for supplying electrical'current to the coil 18 of the solenoid. Since the coil '18 is normally de-energized, a spring 85 secured to the armature and anchored to the adjacent panel 5| or 53 urges the armature into fully withdrawn position so as to extend the stop arm 89 into obstructing position with respect to the cans at position No. f1. As soon as the last can arrives on the top of the stack at position No. 2 this last can engages a flexible finger 86 carried by a crossbar 81 to urge the same into engagement with the control button 88 of the microswitch 82. The circuit 84 is thereby closed causing current to flow through the coil 81 whereupon the armature 19 is withdrawn against the action of spring 85. Thus the stop arm 89 is withdraw from obstructing position with respect to the lowermost can in position No. 4 a1- lowing the cans in all four positions (1 through 4) to move as a unit with the upper reach 30 of the dis-charge conveyor belt 29. As soon as the top can of stack No. 2 passes out of engagement with the finger 86 the microswitch 82 is released, breaking the circuit 84 whereupon the coil 18 is de-energized. Consequently, the spring 85 im mediately pulls the armature 19 causing the stop arm 89 to again extend into can obstructing position. This time the stack which was previously at position No. 3 will be stopped at position No. 4 and all stacks to the rear of the latter will be obstructed.

The stack of cans thus released from position No. 4 moves with the belt 29 up to a depressable stop bar 89 by which the cans are stopped temporarily awaiting additional stacks to arrive. The depressable stop bar 89 is disposed between the carton filling station l8 and the'table top 3| forming a part of the carton turning device 32.

The apparatus is set intoautomatic stacking operation preferably by filling up the stacks at positions No. 4 and 3 and one half the stack (three cans) at position No. 2, as indicated in solid outline in Fig. 4. The first can coming off of the feed belt gravitates down the stationary chute and is discharged onto the discharge conveyor as indicated at A, Fig. 4. As the leading end of can A strikes the moving belt 29 of the discharge conveyor IS the can A is caused to fall fiat on belt 29 in position No. 1 where it is obstructed from further movement by the cans in position No. 2. r .As can A passed the enlarged end 68 of the arms 51 of the valvemeans 56 the latter was rocked clockwise Fig. 4 into full line position whereupon the second can B coming off of the feed belt 25 will gravitate over the top of the upper chute 55. Thus can 13 glides down the rails 6|-62 and dis-charges onto the top of the half stack disposed in position No. 2. However, as can B passed the enlarged end 68 of the arms 51 of the valve means 56 the latter was rocked back to its initial or dotted line position, Fig. 4, thus opening up the stationary chute for the receipt of the next successive can.

The foregoing operation is repeated until three cans are deposited in position No. 1 and the sixth can arriving at position No. 2 engages the flexible finger 86 to operate the microswitch 82 whereupon the solenoids are energized withdrawing the stop arms 8|] from engagement with the cans'in position No." 4. Thereafter all of the cans on' the discharge conveyor |5 are advanced therewith until the topmost can in position No. 2 passes beyond the flexible finger 86. Thus the microswitch 82 is immediately released to break the circuit to the solenoid coils 18 whereupon the stop arms 88 and armatures are urged by springs into can obstructing position.

The foregoing advancement of the stacks of cans within chamber 4 is reasonably sudden so that the next can discharging from the stationary chute 59 will repeat the operation as explained in connection with can A above.

It should here be noted that the cans discharging from the upper chute 55 into position No. 2 are guided by a deflector strip 19 supported angularly below the lower edges of the rails GI, 62. In this connection the momentum of the cans discharging from the rails 6|, 62 is such that each can glides onto a preceding can. Thus each can discharged into position No. 2 finally comes to rest upon the preceding can due to the tendency of the cans to nest with respect to each other in the manner and for the reasons hereinbefore explained.

As best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, when a suflicient number of stacks of cans arrive at the carton filling station IS a carton C is placed over them manually. The number of cans to a carton may vary with marketing desires and usually consists of 24 or 48 cans to a carton.

When 24 cans are to be placed in a carton only two tiers 99 and 9| discharging from the stacking chamber l4 need be employed. In this connection guide rails 92, 93 and 94 in alignment with the panels 5|, 52 and 53, respectively, of the stacking chamber, are suitably supported above the upper reach 30 of the discharge conveyor belt 29 in a manner well known in the art.

When 48 cans are to be placed in a carton the aforementioned gate means I1 is employed. One such gate means is associated with each tier 98 and 9| by being placed in the outermost rails 92 and 94 respectively. Each gate means comprises a Y-shaped lever 95 in which one arm 96 is straight and the other arm 91 diverges therefrom. Where these arms 96-91 converge a pin 98 extends downwardly from them and through across bar 99 carried by the counter height frame 2|. A nut I88 on the end of the pin 98 secures the Y-shaped lever 95 to the frame 2|] at either side of the discharge conveyor belt 29.

A supplemental belt 29 and 29" is provided at the side of the main discharge belt 29 adjacent the rails 99 and 9|, respectively. These belts 29 and 29" are driven by the drive pulley 28 of the discharge conveyor so as to move simultaneously with the main belt 29 thereof. Consequently, as the gate means ll functions to divert cans from the main belt 29, the diverted can is immediately picked up by the supplemental belt 29 or 29" and continues to'advance toward the depressable bar 89.

The lever 95 is arranged so that when its straight arm 96 is disposed in alignment with the rail 92 or 94 its other arm 9! extends into the tier or 9| above the main belt 29. Thus when the first (1st) can passes the arm 91 the lever is rocked from full to dotted line position (Fig. 1) so that the second (2nd) can is deflected from the main belt onto the supplemental belt 29 or 29". After a can passes from the main to the supplemental belt it is beyond the pivot point of the similar row of 24 cans is in position behind this first row of 24 cans (Figs. 1 and 2) the entire'48 cans are ready for the reception of a carton C.

When the carton C is pressed down over the cans at the station [8 one edge E of the carton will be forced down upon the depressable bar 89 against the action of its springs, Thus the cans with carton over them are no longer obstructed for movement with the belt 29 and the filled carton is advanced onto the table top 3| of the carton turning device 32. Thereaiterthe depressable bar 89 is released to again assume can obstructing position at the end of the discharge conveyor [5. When the filled carton on the tabl 34 is placed within the right angled arms 33 and the drive mechanism 35 therefor operated in the conventional manner, th shaft 34 is turned to invert the filled carton depositing it bottom side down upon the roller conveyor 36. Thence the cartons are conveyed to a carton sealing machine or are sealed by hand.

Having thus described the best mode of carrying out my invention it will be apparent that the mode described may be varied; modified or altered without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore desire to avail myself of all variations, modifications and/or alterations as fairly come within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for stacking fiat cans comprising means for feeding cans in single file, a can stacking chamberof a length to receive a plurality of laterally adjacent cans, for receiving cans from said feeding means, a moving belt at a lower level than said feeding means and forming a bottom for said chamber, a dual level chute between said feeding means and said chamber including a lower chute for directing cans onto said moving belt to a predetermined number of cans in height, yieldable means in said chamber for obstructing movement of the stacks of cans therein by said moving belt, said dual level chute including an upper chut discharging into said chamber one can length in advance of said lower chute for depositing an additional number of cans on a stack thereof previously stacked by said lower chute and can engaging means engageable by the topmost can of a stack of predetermined height stacked by said upper chute, said can engaging means being operatively connected with said yieldable means obstructing the cans for releasing the yieldable means from can obstructing position while a can is in engagement with said can engaging means.

2, Apparatus for stacking flat cans comprising .a stationary chamber including a continuously moving bottom, means in said chamber for releasably obstructing movement of stacks of cans by 7 said continuously moving bottom, means for feed! a single file of cans toward said chamber, and a dual level chute for receiving cans from said feeding means and for discharging said cans into said chamber, said dual level chute comprising a stationary lower chute disposed to direct cans into a first position in said chamber to a predetermined height, an upper chute disposed to direct cans into a second position one can length in adas the can advances with.

vance of said first position, and at a greater height than said first chute, and trip means in said chamber above said second position engageable by'the top 'can of a stack of predetermined height received'therein and operable to release said can obstructing means whereby the completed stacks of cans in both positions advance a distance sufiicient with the continuously moving bottom to move the stack of cans in the second position from beneath said trip means, and to move the stack of cans from the first position into the second position.

3. A can stacking device comprising a stacking chamber having a continuously moving bottom for advancing cans therethrough, releasable means adjacent said chamber and normally urged into the same for obstructing a predetermined number of stacks of cans therein to thereby provide a first anda second stacked can position of one can length each within said chamber, means for feeding cansin single file toward said chamber from a level above the same, a dual level chute between said can feedingmeans and said chamber including a lower chute terminating at a predetermined height above the continuously moving bottom of said chamber for discharging cans in stacked relation within the first can position in said chamber, and an upper chute terminating at a greater height than said lower chute above the moving bottom of said chamber to discharg cans into the second stacking position in said chamber on a partly formed stack advanced thereto from the first stacking position, and means mounted to release said releasable obstructing means upon the attainment of a predetermined height by the stack in the second can position in said chamber to free the stacks for movement by the moving chamber bottom.

4. A can stacking device comprising a stacking chamber having a continuously moving bottom for advancing cans therethrough, releasable means adjacent said chamber and normally urged into the same for obstructing a predetermined number of stacks of cans therein to thereby provide a firstand a second stacked can position of one can length each within said chamber, means for feeding cans in single file toward said' chamber from a level above the same, a dual level chute between said can feeding means and said chamber including a lower chute terminating'at a predetermined height above the continuously moving bottom of said chamber for discharging cans into the same in stacked relation within the first can position in said chamber, an upper chute terminating above the moving bottom of said chamber at substantially twice the height of the terminal end of said lower chute Q therefrom for discharging cans in stacked relation into the second can position in said cham-' ber, and ontop of a stack thereof previously formed in said first can position valve means in said dual chute for directing alternate cans from said feed means into said lower and then into said upper chute, and means engageable by the last of a predetermined number of cans stacked in said second can position for operating said releasable means to withdraw the same from can obstructing position relative to said chamber to permit advance of the stacks of cans therein by one can length.

5. Apparatus for stacking fiat cans comprising a can stacking chamber having two can stacking positions therein, each of said positions being disposed to receive cans one upon the other therein,'said chamber having a continuously moving ing a lower stationary chute for depositing cans in staclced relation into said first positionto the height of said lower chute, an upperchute for discharging cans in staoked 'relation into said second position, valve means mounted to direct alternate cans from said can feeding means into first one and then the other of said first and second positions, and means controlled by the top can of a stack of cans of predetermined height in the second position to release said obstructing means to. free the stack of cans in the first position for movement by said bottom into the second position, and to free the stack of cans in the second position for movement by said bottom beyond said first and second positions.

6. Apparatus for stacking flat cans comprising a can stacking chamber having two can stacking positions each of said positions being disposed to receive cans in stacked relation one upon the other, said chamber having a continuously moving bottom moving in a direction from a first toward a second of said can stacking positions, means in said chamber for releasably obstructing movement of stacks of cans in said positions by said continuously moving bottom, means for feeding cans toward said chamber from a higher level than the latter, a dual level chute between said can feeding means and said chamber including a lower stationary chute for depositing cans in stacked relation into said first position to a predetermined height, an upper chute for discharging cans into said second position at a height greater than said predetermined height for the stack of cans inthe first position valve means in said dual level chute for directing alternate cans from said can feeding means into first one and then the other of said positions, and means in said chamber overlying said second position and engageable by the topmost can of a stack of predetermined height therein, said overlying means being operatively connected with said can obstructing means for releasing both stacks of cans for movement of the stack thereof in the second position beyond said overlying means, and for movement of the stack in the first position into the second position.

'7. 'In an apparatus for stacking fiat cans'comprising a canstackingchamber having two can stacking positions disposed to receive cans stacked one upon the other, means for feeding cans toward said chamber from a higher-level than the latter, a dual level chute between said can feeding means and said chamber including a lower stationary chute for depositing cans into a first ,of said positions at a predetermined height, and

:an upper chute for discharging cans into said second positionat a predetermined height greater than that of said lower chute, valve means in said dual level chute for directing cans from said can feeding means alternately into the lower I and upper chutes of saiddual level chute, said valve means comprising an arm tiltably mounted midway its ends, and having one position for guiding said cans onto said upper chute whereby the cans so guided weigh down the arm to tilt the latter to a second position for admitting a succeeding can into said lower chute, a portion of said arm projecting into the path of movement of a can passing through the lower chute for tilting said arm back 10 to its position for guiding cans onto the upper chute,

8. Apparatus for stacking fiat cans comprising a dual level chute having an upper and a lower incline chute, means for feeding cans into said dual level chute, and valve means in said dual level chute for directing cans received from said feeding means alternately into the upper and then the lower inclined chute, said valve means comprising a pair of wedge shaped arms pivotally mounted midway their ends at the threshold of said upper chute to dispose the apexes of said arms adjacent said feeding means for the reception of cans therefrom, said wedge shaped arms being normally disposed with their enlarged ends extending slightly beyond parallelism with said inclined upper chute for depression by a can as it passes over said enlarged ends of said arms to tilt the apexes of said arms away from said feeding means whereby the next can discharged from the latter enters said lower chute, said enlarged ends of said wedge shaped arms being engageable by a can descending the lower chute for tilting said arms back toward normal position with their apexes in can receiving position "relative to said feeding means. i

9. Apparatus for stacking flat cans comprising a dual level chute having an upper and a lower inclined chute,'means for feeding cans into said feeding means alternately into the upper and then the lower inclined chute, said valve means comprising a pair of wedge shaped arms pivotally mounted midway their ends at the threshold of said upper chute to dispose theapexes of said arms adjacent said feeding means for the reception of cans therefrom, said wedge shaped arms being normally disposed with their enlarged ends extending slightly beyond parallelism with said inclined upper chute for depression by a can as it passes over said enlarged ends of said arms to tilt the apexes of said arms away from said feeding, means wherebythe next can discharged from the latter enters said lower chute, said enlarged ends of said wedge shaped arms being engageable by a can descending the lower chute for tilting said arms back towardnormal position with their apexes in can receiving position relative to said feeding means, and an overcenter device operatively connected to said pivotally mounted wedge shaped arms for releasablymaintaining the latter in one or the other of its extreme positions relative to said dual level chute.

10.. The combination with a pair of inclined chutes disposed one above the other for directing cans into difierent positions of discharge and means for feeding cans in single file toward said pair of chutes for, discharge into the lowermost said lowermost one of said chutes for tilting said movable can runway toward substantial parallelism with the uppermost one of said chutes whereby the next can discharged from said can feeding means is received by said movable can runway for descent along said uppermost one of' said chutes, said enlarged end of said arm being depressable by a can gliding thereover for tilting said movable can runway out of substantial ing said lowermost one of said chutes.

11. The combination with a pair of inclined chutes disposed one above the other for directing cans into different positions of discharge and means for feeding cans in single file toward said pair of chutes for discharge into the lowermost one thereof, of valve means in the form of a counterbalanced extension of the uppermost one of said pair of inclined chutes comprising a movable can runway pivotally mounted at the threshold of said uppermost one of said chutes, said movable can runway including a wedge shaped arm pivoted therewith to dispose the enlarged end of said arm in the path of a can descending said lowermost one of said chutes for tilting said tilting said movable can runway out of substantial parallelism with said uppermost one of said chutes to again dispose the enlarged end of said wedge shaped arm in the path of a can descending said lowermost one of said chutes, and an overcenter device for positively urging said movable can runway and said wedge shaped arm into one or the other of its positions relative to said pair of chutes dependent upon descent of cans along. the same.

12. Apparatus for stacking flat cans comprising a table having a' carton filling station at one end thereof and a can stacking chamber having two can stacking positions therein at the other end thereof, means for feeding cans toward said stacking chamber, a dual level chute'between said feeding means and said chamber including a lower chute for discharging cans one by one to build up a stack thereof of predetermined height within a first can position in said chamber, an upper chute for discharging cans one by one into a second can position in said chamber upon a stack thereof previously built up at the first can position in said chamber, means urging the cans in the first chamber toward the second chamber, means releasably resisting action of said urging means, and means operable by the topmost can of a stack thereof of predetermined height received in said second can position for releasing the stacks of cans in both of said stacking positions for advance by said urging means a distance equal to one can length.

13.. An arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the cans are advanced by a conveyor underlying the chamber, and gate means are mounted between the chamber and the carton filling station for diverting alternate stacks of cans from said second position into separate lanes for travel toward the carton filling station.

14. In a can stacking machine, a dual chute for receiving cans in succession for discharge alternately into a first and then into a second stacking position, said dual chute comprising a first chute discharging into the first stacking position and terminating at a height equal to substantially one half a predetermined height of stack of said predeterminedcompleted height,

means tending to advance cans in both stacking positions in a direction from the first toward the second stacking position, releasable means preventing such advance, means actuated upon the completion of a stack of cans of predetermined height in the second stacking position to free the completed stack for movement beyond the second stacking position and to free the partially completed stack in the first stacking position for movement into i the second stacking position.

15. Apparatus for stacking fiat cans comprising a can stacking chamber having a plurality of can stacking positions therein, means for feeding cans toward said chamber, stackingmeans mounted between said can feeding means and said chamber including a member for stacking cans to less than a predetermined height in a first of said stacking positions, and a member for completing a stack of cans to said predetermined height in a second of said stacking positions, counterbalanced means mounted for movement from one position wherein it directs cans from said feeding means to one stacking. member, to another position wherein it directs cans from said feeding means to the other stacking member, saidv counterbalanced means having portions thereof positioned for engagement by a can directed to either of said stacking members for turning the counterbalanced means to direct the next can: from said can feeding means to the other stack-- ing member, and means for advancing stacks of cans in both stacking positions a distance equal to one can length upon attainment of said predetermined height by the stack in the second stacking position.

16. An arrangement according to claim 15 wherein the counterbalanced means comprises a pair of wedge shaped rails pivotally mounted intermediately of their ends.

17. In a can stacking machine in which fiat cans are stacked to a predetermined height on a moving belt, releasable means adjacent the receiving portion of said belt for obstructing movement of cans out of a first and a second can stacking position thereon, means for feeding cans onto said moving belt in succession comprising a lower chute discharging into said first'can stacking position from a height substantially comparable to the length of one of said flat cans above said belt and an upper chute discharging into said second can stacking position from a 7 height substantially double the length of one of said flat cans above said belt for completing to said predetermined height a stack of cans received from said first can stacking position, control means overlying said second can stacking position operatively connected to said releasable means for releasing the stacks of cans for movement with said moving belt, and means engageable by the last can to be received in said second can stacking position for operating said control means until the partial stack of cans in said first can stackingposition arrives at said second can stacking position.

18. Apparatus for stacking fiat cans comprising a can stacking chamber having two can stacking positions therein, means for feeding cans predetermined height within a first can position in said chamber, and a second means for discharging cans one by one into a second can posi- 2,645,328 13 14 tion in said chamber upon a stack thereof pre- References Cited in the file of this patent viously built up at the first can position in said UNITED STATES PATENTS chamber, means urging the cans in the first v chamber toward the second chamber, means re- Number Name Date leasably resisting the action of said urging means, 5 2,055,673 ay Dec. 29, 1936 and means operable by the topmost can of a 2,311,627 Adams 23, 4 stack thereof of predetermined height received 2,473,610 Usc et 1949 in said. second can position for releasing the 2,497,149 Berdis 61; a Feb 4, 1950 stacks of cans in both of said stacking positions 2,506,037 adell May 2, 1950 for advance by said urging means a distance 10 2,506,550 Morrison May 2, 1950 equal to one can length. 2,54 ,971 Wagner, Jr., et a1. Feb. 6, 1951 FLOYD WINTERS 0,972 Wagner, Jr., et a1. Feb" 6, 1951 

